Can I re-use my old company's name?

[MrsMuddlePluck]

I would like at some point in the future, to resurrect my old company, but using the same name. We dissolved the company several years ago after disputes with a fellow director/shareholder and as we were also losing money anyway, we parted with bad feeling on both sides.

We 'promised' we would not re-use the company name but I can't find the contract where this is stated [maybe our accountant still has it?]. Can we, in law, re-use our company name anyway? It's now 4 years since the company was dissolved.

Not 100% on the legalities but if you register it as

Old Business Name (Location) Ltd

then surely they wouldn't have a leg to stand on with regards to the contract?

check with companies house if the name is still registered to both of you .

If there is a signed agreement i don't think you can do it. Might be worth bearing in mind that if the company was unsuccessful and folded, it might not be a name you want to be associated with now anyway.

I was contracting in the late 1990s and closed my limited company down in about 2002. When I went contracting again in 2010 my old company name was available so I used it again.
You just need to check on Companies House if the name is available.

Agree with Oogle

You could also use date instead of location:

Old Business Name (2017) Ltd

Pretty sure that's watertight but yes, do check.

Just to say that the advice here is incorrect (sorry folks).

You need to find that contract

Apart from dementedma that is (who is correct).

Be aware of phoenixing laws - you can google for details and the govt website is a good source. It depends on the circumstances of the previous company being dissolved. Apart from that as a PP has mentioned if there's a written agreement stopping you from using the name then you will need to abide by that (or risk being sued for breach).